Work seems to have completely taken over my life recently - see
below. When I escape, I swim and do ashtanga yoga, walking round
London as much as possible with an audio book on my
headphones.

I like language and philosophy. I used to write a lot and want to
get back into it again. So far, this has mainly been poetry, but
I'm moving more towards play-writing and novels. First, though,
I've promised young relatives a story about a flamingo and a bonobo
monkey who pogo down the Limpopo.

I smoke more pot than I probably should, but over-compensate by
bolstering the Oxbridge education and intimidating finance career
with ongoing literary exploration, cryptic crosswords, compulsive
exercise and a host of interesting neuroses.

There's also a strong likelihood I'm too cynical for my own good. I
get bored by fluff and prefer to challenge my attention span by
finding beauty in intricate and poignant details. I think sad
people are far more engaging than happy ones.

I did a PPE degree and had no idea how to sell out, once I realised
I wouldn't get funding for a philosophy PhD*, so I trained as an
accountant on Jersey, (this was actually an accident - I thought
Deloitte were an investment bank when I applied).

I moved to London a couple of years ago, working in finance for a
music major then a TV production company. Now I'm the CFO of a
small (international) TV Channel. We make all our own content and
play out to about 25m homes. I haven't slept since I started. I'm
really enjoying it, but I seem to have quickly assumed
responsibility for everything and never actually leave.

*It was going to be really good: taking Mill's assertion that it's
better to be a slave than a servant, because at least a slave has
freedom of thought, and applying it to the China- Tibet situation;
arguing the Chinese army are the oppressors, but have had their
freedom of mind destroyed by a government that trains them to shit
on command, whereas the shackled Buddhist monks can reach
enlightenment through their private mediation.

You are generally disillusioned with everyone and often need to
take the edge off life, but take great responsibility with a sense
of humour and can still be reduced to tears by the sheer wonder of
life. Or if you just want to slap me and tell me to get over myself
because I could be cute if I wasn't such a melancholic prick.